Government donates a big bus to Port Vila Football

The big 35 seater bus was cordially donated to Port Vila Football association by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs also the deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Edward Nipake Natapei and Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Mr Tony Wright. The handover ceremony took place at the parliament house on Thursday the 28th of November, 2013.This is like a second Christmas gift the Vanuatu Government is giving to Football in Vanuatu. The last issue on Vanua foot contained the great news of the Vanuatu government through the Minister of Justice and Community Services donating a washing machine to Teouma Academy last week.A few of executive members of both Vanuatu Football Federation and Port Vila Football Association were there to witness the handover of the big bus.Honourable Edward Nipake Natapei, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister“Vanuatu Government is honoured to donate a bus to PVFA today. We recognise what football is doing to develop football with our children in this nation and carrying out interesting programs with them. We are so pleased to make this donation of a 35 seater bus to enhance the programs you are running and planning in the development of soccer in the future”, said Honourable Nipake Natapei.“Please make good use of it for the development of soccer in Port Vila and Vanuatu and make Vanuatu government proud” added Minister Natapei as he handed over the key to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister Tony Wright.Honourable Tony Wright, Minister of Youth and Sports.“I am also proud of what football is doing in Port Vila and Vanuatu”.“I want to see this bus the government is giving today to football and sports in the country to be used in the right way to develop football with children, youths, schools in Port Vila. On behalf of the government, I want to ask PVFA to help other sports discipline too with transport”, said Minister Wright.“If any Sports discipline in Vanuatu wishes to use the bus they must go through the management of Port Vila Football Association”, concluded Minister Tony Wright as he handed the key over to the President of Port Vila Football Association Christian Kaltabang.Saby Natonga, Vice President of Vanuatu Football Federation and Port Vila Football Association.“I have been negotiating with the government for a bus until this week. This is a big surprise for football in Vanuatu when the government confirmed that the bus is ready”

“On behalf of Port Vila Football Association and Vanuatu Football, I want to convey our biggest gratitude to the Vanuatu government for recognising football and giving such a needed donation towards its development” said Mr Natonga.“ I am assuring the government that this asset will be under the good care and management of PVFA and will be used in the right way to develop football in Port Vila and Vanuatu including youth, women, futsal and academy and not forgetting other sports discipline”, concluded Mr Saby Natonga.Christian Kaltabang, President of Port Vila Football Association “Action speaks louder than words” started Mr Kaltabang in his speech. With the good development work PVFA is doing the Vanuatu government can recognise football and make such a huge donation of a 35 seater bus”.“Adding onto what the Vice President of PVFA said in his speech, we will look after this Christmas gift for football in Port Vila”“I am overjoyed on behalf of PVFA executive. A big thank you to the vice president, Mr Saby Natonga for the great work he did to negotiate with the government that’s why we are here to witness the handover of the big bus”

About VFF

Vanuatu has one of the most advanced technical programmes in Oceania, particularly at youth level. The Melanesian nation of around 220,000 inhabitants was chosen as one of six countries globally for a FIFA pilot project whereby players are identified at a young age and selected to train and stay full-time at the national academy. As part of that two-year programme for players aged 15-17, consideration is given to continuing school or vocational education.